BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marking the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz,
Warner Bros. has produced a 3D remastered version of the film which will
launch a comprehensive, cross-divisional campaign encompassing
theatrical, home entertainment, consumer products and a number of
promotional partnerships.

Kicking off the celebration, The Wizard of Oz 3D will be
presented in the immersive IMAX® 3D format and return to the
big screen for an exclusive one-week engagement in IMAX®
theatres across North America beginning September 20, 2013.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with IMAX® as we celebrate the 75th
anniversary of this iconic film,” said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic
Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. “The Wizard of Oz IMAX®
3D Experience is an integral part of our studio-wide anniversary
initiative and we are excited to give fans the rare opportunity to see
this stunning version on the big screen.”

“The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all
time and we are thrilled that our longtime partners at Warner Bros. have
made IMAX® a part of this exciting milestone event,” said
Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX® Entertainment.
“This film revolutionized the use of color and special effects in
cinema, and we’re excited to add another ‘first’ – bringing this
timeless classic to moviegoers through the power of The IMAX 3D
Experience® for the very first time.”

The IMAX® release The Wizard of Oz will be
digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX 3D
Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital
Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX®'s
customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique
environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Following the IMAX® theatrical release, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
(WBHE) will release a limited and numbered The Wizard of Oz 75th
Anniversary Collector’s Edition on October 1, 2013, featuring
the 3D version of the film and more.

“Seventy-five years later, The Wizard of Oz continues its
reign as a multi-generational favorite, with nearly 100 percent
awareness among adults and more than 80 percent awareness among
children,” said Jeff Baker, WBHE Executive Vice President and General
Manager, Theatrical Catalog. “In this new 3D version, the film is bound
to make history all over again—with both past and future fans.”

The Wizard of Oz 75th
Anniversary Collector’s Edition will debut as a five-disc set
that will include Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and UltraViolet versions of
the film; a new documentary, The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz;
bonus features and premium collectibles ($105.43 SRP). Three more
editions will be available separately: a two-disc 3D/Blu-ray ($35.99
SRP), a one-disc Blu-ray ($19.98 SRP) and a two-disc DVD ($16.95 SRP).
All four will contain the new documentary and extra content.

SPECIAL FEATURES will include all previously released special
features along with:

ALL-NEW Documentary! The Making of the Wonderful Wizard
of Oz—This candid overview of how a troubled production
overcame the odds to become an integral part of American culture
features contributions from historians John Fricke and Sam Wasson,
composers Stephen Schwartz and Marc Shaiman, critics Leonard Maltin
and Michael Sragow, Bert Lahr’s son John as well as revealing
interview clips with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebsen, Margaret
Hamilton and Mervyn LeRoy, among others.

The 3D conversion was a long and complex project which Warner Bros.
initiated with a very high resolution (8k) scanning of the original
Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed
by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and
determine distances from the viewer’s vantage point. This was followed
by the long process (with the use of a rotoscope) to further refine
viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects.

“People have asked for years about The Wizard of Oz3D
conversion. My answer was always, ‘We’re not doing it until it’s
perfect.’ And now it is,” said Ned Price, Warner Technical Operations’
Vice President of Mastering. “As a kid, I was so enthralled by this
film. Watching it, you just want to enter the frame, enter the Land of
Oz. This new version will allow you to do just that.”

In support of the 75th anniversary of the film, Warner Bros.
Consumer Products’ extensive licensing program of more than 80 top-tier
licensees will expand with new partnerships. Leading the way is master
toy partner Jazwares, along with Mattel, Rubies, Lionel, Steiff,
USAopoly, Thomas Kinkade, and many more that will be taking part in the
celebration. Special commemorative anniversary product will be available
across a wide array of categories including apparel, jewelry,
collectibles, publishing, stationery and paper goods, toys and games,
slot machines and personal care.

In addition, the Warner Bros. releases will be massively supported by a
far-reaching promotional campaign encompassing numerous participants.
National corporate partners include (to date) promotional activities
with a Major National Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR), the debut of a giant
hot-air balloon and balloonhead characters in the 87th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as joint programs
with Amtrak, Gourmet Trading Company, Langers Juice, QVC and Simon
Malls®. In collaboration with the Ad Council and the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, new child passenger safety Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) featuring iconic elements from The Wizard of
Oz film will be distributed and run in donated media nationally.

The Wizard of Oz themed competition will also be featured
on an upcoming episode of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” to be aired
later this year.

About the Movie

Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas
girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at
Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by
Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind),
produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and
lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. DOROTHY™ was portrayed by a
4'11" sixteen-year-old girl who quickly earned her reputation as “the
world’s greatest entertainer”—the incomparable Judy Garland. Ray Bolger
appeared as the SCARECROW™; Bert Lahr as the COWARDLY LION™, Jack Haley
as the TIN MAN™. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including
that of the wonderful “Wizard of Oz" himself.

The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award® nominations1,
including Best Picture (Outstanding Production), and captured two
Oscars®—Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score -- plus a
special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The
film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial
release and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when M-G-M
reissued the film in 1949 and 1955. The film made a new kind of history
with its network television premiere in 1956 on CBS. Nearly 45 million
people tuned in for this initial telecast, marking the beginning of an
annual tradition. Ever since, The Wizard of Oz has been shown
virtually annually on network (and then cable) television; its magical
story and heartfelt performances have enabled it to grow from a
perennial classic to its current status as a treasured icon of popular
culture.

“Academy Award®,” “Academy Awards®” is the registered trademark and
service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Blu-ray Disc™ and Blu-ray™ and the logos are the trademarks of Blu-ray
Disc Association.

Warner Home Video Blu-ray Discs™ offer resolution six times higher than
standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast
and color and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher
level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a
seamless menu bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or
interrupting the film.

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros.
Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive
entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order
to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An
industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global
distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD)
and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and
video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is
a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game
titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party
retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through
WBShop.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is
one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in
the world.

About IMAX® Corporation

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary
software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you
beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top
filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with
audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among
the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for
major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices
in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2013, there were
738 IMAX theatres (606 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial
destinations and 113 institutions) in 53 countries.